title: Clinical benefit of power-injectable port systems: a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the clinical benefit of a central venous port system, which is approved for contrast media injection during contrast enhanced computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  At a university teaching hospital, 98 patients (59 female, 39 male; median age 61.7 years; range 23-83) had a power-injectable central venous port catheter system implanted. All implantations were performed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance by interventional radiologists. Procedure related immediate (up to 24 h after implantation), early (<30 days after implantation) and late complications were documented. The frequency of port system use for contrast enhanced computed tomography scans was also considered. Any port capsule migration was assessed indirectly by determining the catheter tip position. The intended follow-up period was 180 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall complication rate of 0.69 for 1,000 catheter days in 78 evaluated ports was recorded (12 ports affected, 15.4%). During the observational period, 40 of 104 contrast enhanced computed tomography scans were performed utilizing the port for contrast media administration (38.5%). 30 catheter tip retractions of more than 3 cm were observed in 82 patients (36.6%). Overall, tip dislocations were statistically more frequent in the female subgroup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The complication rate found in this study is comparable to those, which have been published for standard port systems. The utilization of the device for contrast media injection during contrast enhanced computed tomography scans should be increased. Finally, the port capsule has to be carefully positioned and fixed to prevent migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charité Medical School, Humboldt University and Free University, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. ulf.teichgraeber@charite.de
authors.forename: Ulf K M
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Teichgräber
authors.forename: Sebastian N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kausche
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Enzweiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media